Mt. Greylock Bowl Sold; Golf Simulators Being Installed

Mount Greylock Bowl's new management is adding golf simulators and other recreational activities to the lanes.

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The rumble of bowling balls down the wooden lanes of Mount Greylock Bowl will soon be complemented by cries of "Fore" as golfers swing along a simulated Pebble Beach.

Three top-of-the-line golf simulators are replacing six of the bowling lanes at the 52-year-old bowling alley; also in the works are more activities such as shuffleboard and dart leagues.

The changes are part of the alley's new management, which took over on Friday.

Mount Greylock Bowl, at 41 Roberts Drive, was purchased on Friday from owners Gary and Beverly Superneau for $423,800 by KG&E Realty Group LLC, with principals Osmin "Ozzie" and Monica Alvarez of Williamstown. James Shaker has taken over the business and will manage the operations. The Superneaus will continue managing the bar and grill under a separate lease.

Alvarez, also owner of iBerkshires.com's parent company BoxCar Media, said he and Shaker, his brother-in-law, were looking for a location for golf simulators when mutual friends put them in contact with Superneau. Alvarez said a deal came together to purchase the building in a fairly short amount of time.

"I'm extremely excited for the possibilities that lie ahead," said Shaker, who's already been putting in hours at the business.

The renovations include the construction of a new recreational room and the reduction of six of the 36 bowling lanes to make way for the simulators. Construction is expected to be completed by next week and the simulators should be open shortly after Christmas. The name may be changed slightly to add "Golf."

"The purchase was made for a variety of reasons," said Alvarez. "First and foremost, it was made to make sure that a great recreational outlet like the bowling alley remained available for Berkshire County residents.

The lanes on the south side of the building are being replaced by golf simulators and a large lounge area with televisions.

"Secondly, the idea of creating more indoor recreational activities like golfing, dart leagues, shuffle board and corn hole tournaments was something that we felt was needed not only in Northern Berkshire County but by all of Berkshire County."

The simulators are made by AboutGolf, whose simulator technology is featured on the Golf Channel. More recently, two of its simulators were featured at the 2012 Golf Channel Am Tour National Championships.

The technology allows golfers to play 29 virtual golf courses, such as Pebble Beach and the historic St. Andrews Links.

The new owners expect to be increasing the hours of operation and adding some new employees but otherwise, the bowling business is not expected to change.

Mount Greylock Bowl opened its doors in August 1960 with great fanfare. The half-million dollar venture boasted 24 lanes of 10-pin bowling. A partnership including Clinton E. Whitney, Richard A. Hunter, John Morgan, Edward Nassif and James Hunter invested about $350,000 into the land and building and another $150,000 in the automatic pinsetters.

Superneau purchased Mount Greylock Bowl in 1999. His father, Ronald, was the longtime manager and later part owner of the alley. The Superneaus were unavailable for comment.

Both Alvarez and Shaker stressed that they were very grateful to the Superneaus for what they have done for the bowling community over the years and for allowing them to carry the mantle forward.

"We feel this is a great outlet for adults to gather with friends and families in a warm, inviting atmosphere," said Alvarez.

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